Took my son for a mainstream open day... was hell.

[LarryForPrimeMinister]

Currently waiting mediation for an echp request this month so in the meantime looking at mainstream senior schools as a back up.
My son is autistic with t1d and can be hard work, he gets very anxious and masks a lot.

Today we took him a open evening at the local mainstream and it was hell. He kept trying to leave. He wouldn't look in classrooms or engage with teachers trying to talk to him.

He really isn't happy about how big it was or the very, very open lunch hall which is on the main ground.

Can I use this example in mediation to why mainstream may not be suitable?
His current school feels he will get to anxious in a mainstream senior and refuse to go.

The other issue I have is that he's extremely bright in Science & Maths and estimated to be 2 years above his peer group so SEN may also not be suitable! I am literally pulling my hair out with stress as I don't know what school setting is going to work out the best for him.

If this is refusal to assess, you only have to show DS a) has or may have SEN, and b) may need special educational provision to be made via an EHCP. Anything else is unlawful. It is usually the second part of the test that the LA disagrees on and usually this is the part that the more difficult part to prove.

You can mention your visit in mediation, but it is likely you have far stronger evidence.

Do you have the current school’s opinion that DS will be anxious and unable to attend secondary MS?

Do you have any smaller mainstream secondary schools within travelling distance?

Is DS in Y6?

There are SS who can cater for academically able DC.

Yes have stronger evidence, years of sen plans and not much progress as he's high anxiety and demand avoidant. His teacher and senco are attending who both in agreement mainstream isn't suitable. They even said if I had to appeal to put him in mainstream and just use the reason hes refusing for the echp to get him into specialist.
No all senior schools by me are huge. Yes year 6. My eldest attends a sen school that offer 6 gcses but ds wants to do something in science or maths later on and I don't know if that will hinder him having less GCSEs. He does struggle academically with English and they said if he sat an exam with reasoning questions he'd fail so there are needs there for sen school. He's an nightmare as he's very intelligent but very behind socially and independent skills. 😫

Fewer GCSEs isn’t necessarily a barrier to going on to further and higher education. There are DC who go on to e.g. A levels with 5/6 GCSEs. I know some with 3/4 who have gone on to A levels.

If there is an otherwise suitable school but studying more GCSEs is appropriate for DS, there are options. For example, some schools will (or be forced to by the EHCP) offer more bespoke curriculums, sometimes it is possible for provision from outside the school to be provided in school e.g. a tutor going in to school or an online course undertaken in school, or sometimes it is possible for some provision to be provided otherwise than in school.

By all means mention the open day, but I would focus more on your stronger evidence.

Oh that's actually quite reassuring. Thank you so much i didn't know that could even be a option!